Battery clamp



Jan. 19, 1932. F, HUGHES 1,841,371

BATTERY CLAMP Filed March 28, 1929 I Inventor F7652 ffiwy@$,

J Attorney is strong, compact and durable, highly efii,

Patented Jan. 19,1932

NirED sl'ra'ras] FRED T. HUGHES, OF MISSOURI VALLEY; Iowa BATTERY char/Ir Application filed Mai-ch 28,

This invention relates to battery clamps and an object of the invention is to provide a device of the character referred to, for attachment to a battery post in a horizontal plane with respect to the top of the battery,

Other objects of the invention are to provide, in amanner as hereinafter setforth, a device of the character referred to, which inent of the invention, but it is to be understood that changes, variations, and modifications, may be resortedto, without departing from the spirit of the clai s hereunto appended.

In the drawing, wherein like reference characters denote corresponding parts throughout the several views:

Figure 1 is an elevationvof the device in accordance with this invention. 1

Figure 2 is a central longitudinal sectional view, taken on the line 22 of Figured,v This invention is to be understo'odas an improvement on my battery terminal clamp, application Serial No. 314:,115, filed October 23,1928' v a f Referring to the drawing in detail, wherein isshown an embodiment of the invention, 5 inclicatesgenerally the substantially yoke shapedbody portion having a bight portion '6 and a pair of legs Tand 8, all of which :are

formed, integral with the body portiongf" The inner opposed faces 9 and 10 0f the respective legs 7 and 8 incline upwardly from the lower ends of the legs for a portion of the length of the respective legs. "The inclined faces 9 and 10 adjacent the lower ends of the legs'arevformed witha pair of aligned transversely extending arcuate concavities 11 and 12 adapted to abut the binding post ona storage battery. The body portion {imay 7' 192a. i se rial N 350539;

electrical cur1'e11ts The legs 7" and 8 are resilient to a degree where the clamp isselfsustainingvupon' the battery post, without the aid of anexternal locking means. i

The bightlkportion be formed of metal'adaptedffor conductiiig i i 6 ofthe bodyb is'formed with an upwardly directed boss onitsupper endand the 'boss providedwith a-circular opening 14, extending transversely, entirely through its' wa'll. JVhile the opening 141s preferably'iformed in the position shown ini Figure '1 of-"the drawing, it is within the contemplation-of the invention tohave the" ropening 'extend in any desired direction.

The plane ofeXtensionof'tlieYopening14 is disposed at an anglewitli re1'ation to the legs '(and' 8', and 'preferablyin a plane perpena dicul'ar thereto By havingthefopening 14:7

disposed inthe relationsliown in Figure 1 of the drawing, the terminal of the conductor wire,= (not shown inithe drawing) may be connected'therewith in thejdesiredplane with i Threadably inou'nted in the smaller opening' 15 is a set screw 16'whichis adaptedto de: tachably fixa the terminal of the conductor. Wire-'inF'the opening It is pointed out that the opening shown atthe opening 15 may be disposed: at any? angle around theboss 13, andaslong as the said openingjl5 is projecte cl radially 3 withnespect' to" the cir cula-r opening. aforementioned. Since the leg-s 7 andS- are'resilient to a degreeof being self-sustainingon a'ibattery' post, by abutment therewith; it is within the contemplation of 1 theinvention toprovide means for-locking a ii: i

95 i1 is' i'ndic ated generally atfl'a'. Thel'locking. means" lTJcohsists" of acylindrical boltha 'ing a head'18 in abutment with the outerface i of the le'g18, a plain portiorv19=extend1ng the legsjabontthe binding post andsaid means through an opening12O in the leg- 8 and respect-Ito the'body portion of the-clamp so as" threaded portion 21 thereof threadably mounted in'a threaded opening22 in the pposite leg 7. The openings 22 and 20 extend entirely through the walls of the legs 7 and 8 and are in transverse alignment with each other. A pin 23 extends diametrically through the plain portion 19 of the bolt having the laterally disposed shoulders of'the pin in abutment with the inner face of the 10 leg 8, for the purpose of preventing longitudinal movement of the'bolt. description, it will be apparent that by turn ing the head 18, the legs 7 and 8 will be drawn Y toward each other for clamping the post of the battery between the concavitles 11' and 12. i It is pointed out with'respect to the present invention that the clamp is adapted for being utilized for connecting the terminal endof anelectrical conductor wire with a 0 binding post on a battery or a binding post without a battery constructed and attached to any switch board 01' electrical apparatus regardless of whether the current is used in an automobile a radio set, a charging apparatus or any otheryelectric, appliance. It is furthermore pointed: out that the concave surfaces 11 and 12 clean the-binding postof the battery as the concave faces yieldingly grip the post as the clamp is attached or rejmoved therefrom. s a y I It is furthermore pointed out that the boss 13 with its structure hereinbefore described and illustrated is 1 adapted for use with my vertical clamp Serial No. 314,415 filed Octo iber 23, 1928, and above referred to.

yvVhat'l-claim'isr 1 i I g 1. A battery clamp comprising a yokeshaped body havingra pair of spaced elongated legs, said legs having registering con- From the above FRED T; HUGHES.

icavities at their free ends adapted to receive y a battery post therein, said legs having an inherent resiliency to normally-bind saidlegs at said concavities against the opposite sides of said post, clamping bolt, engaging jthrough thelegs intermediate said c,0ncavi-,

ties and the bight of said yoke-shaped body to spring the intermediate portions of the legs toward each other and bind the concave portions of the legs againstthe post and turn- "the same againstthe post to bite into the sur-' face thereof, said'yoke-shaped body havingan apertured boss at its outer end to receive,

the terminalof anelectrical conductor.

2. A "battery clamp comprising a onepiece relatively flat and long body portion Y "having a' conductor terminal receivingopening near one end extending through vthe opposite faces of the body portion, said body portion being bifurcated through its opposite end and through the major'portion of its length to provide relatively long-spaced apart 7 legs, theQfree end portions of the legs having at their innersid-es concave battery post re:

ceiving faces, and a clamping screw secured through thelegs at points spaced inwardly I 

